Mattress stitching machine



Dec. 7, 1943. 'r 'N. PATTON MATTRESS STITCHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5 1942 Tho/72051). [@2752 63 e 16 14 jweizfir Deg. 7, 1943. T. 'N. PATTON 2,335,960

MATTRESS STITCHING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1942 3 Sheets-She et 2 zz/elzfo'n' Dec. 7, 1943.. T. N, PATTON 2,335,960

MATTRESS snwcnme MACHINE Filed March 5, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATTRESS STITCHING MACHINE Thomas N. Patton, Memphis, Tenn.

Application March 1942, Serial No. 433,414

12 Claims.

The invention relates to machines for making mattresses of the type which includes a spring center, filling over the springs, and a box-border.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine for securing the inner-liner of a box-border to the spring-structure and filling of the mattress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for simultaneously formin the marginal portion of the filling around the edge of the spring-structure into a roll and securing the inner-liner and roll around the edge of the spring-structure.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective of a machine embodying the invention, the mattress supporting table being omitted. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section illustrating a portion of the completed mattress. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3 after a staple has secured the box-border to the filling and the spring-structure. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a machine equipped with the invention, the parts of the mattress on which the machine is operating being shown in section.

The invention is exemplified in connection with amattress-supporing table b which, in practice, is adapted to completely support a mattress, and a carriage a which is adapted to travel step-bystep and to travel around the four sides of the table b. The carriage and its propelling mechanism and the table may be of usual construction in mattress making machines, as well understood in the art, to produce intermittent movement of the carriage around the elements of the mattress on the table b while assembling or making the mattress and as exemplified in U. S. Patents Nos. 1,300,139 and 1,372,871.

The head 0 of stapling mechanism is mounted on a standard a which is fixed to the carriage a and travels therewith around the table I). This mechanism comprises a bender or former which is slidably mounted in the head 0 and operable to cut a section from a strip of wire 0 and bend the ends of the section downwardly, a driver 0 which is adapted to force the prongs of the staple through the parts of the mattress as here-. inafter described, for securing said parts together. The construction of the stapler and the mechanism for propelling the carriage around the table are well understood in the art, and may be of the construction set forth in an application filed by Joseph W. Droll August 21, 1941, Serial No. 407,747. The carriage a is supported and guided around the table in a path conforming to the contour of the mattress structure by a grooved track h which extends around the table and is supported on fixed standards or legs g and rollers h which travel in the track and vertically support the carriage. The lower portion of the carriage is held against transverse tilting by a lower roller 71 which is mounted on the lower end of the carriage a and rides on the outer side of track h The finished mattress comprises a springstructure d which is usually composed of a series of coils secured together in properly spaced relation, usually by upper and lower border members (1 as well understood in the art; fillings d of suitable material, such as sisal, extending over the top and bottom of the spring-structure, respectively; a pre-formed box-border which comprises an inner linear e an outer ticking e and an intermediate padding e which are stitched together; a padding d over each filing d and top and bottom ticking-sheets d.

In mattress malclng, it is advantageous to secure the inner liner e of the pre-formed boxborder to the spring-structure and to form a roll (1 of the filling it around the edges of the springstructure. For that purpose the inner liner e is initially provided with free marginal portions e along the top and bottom edges which can be lapped around the edges of the rolls at of the fillings d and secured to the spring-structure. The filling d is extended to initially provide a depending marginal portion (1 (Fig. 2) which can be folded inwardly to form the roll d The present invention is adapted to fold the marginal portion 01 of the filling it around the edge of the spring-structure to form the roll d"; to guide and lay the free marginal portion 6 of the inner liner e of the box-border over the roll (1 and on the top of the marginal portion of filling d (Fig. 4); and to secure the boxborder and filling d to the spring-structure by staples j, which extend through the marginal portion e of liner e the fillings d inwardly of the edge of the spring-structure, and the inturned portion d of said filling.

This assembly is effected by a device or bracket h which travels with the carriage a and the stapling mechanism 0 around the stationary table. The bracket h is formed-of a singlepiece which is secured by bolts ID to the inner side of standard a and comprises an upstanding member l2; an arm 13 which extends forwardly from the standard to a point in advance of the stapling mechanism c; an arm M which extends inwardly and transversely from the forward end of arm l3; an arm or member l5 which extends transversely downwardly and outwardly from the inner end of arm 14; and a bar which is substantially cylindrical in cross section and extends rearwardly and longitudinally from the lower and outer end of arm i5 and includes an inwardly and rearwardly curved portion H which merges into a straight rearward extension l8 which carries the anvil c for the stapling mechanism. The curved upper edge 16 of arm l5 forms a guide which slides along the inner and under face of the free marginal portion e (Fig. 2) of .line'r e of the box-border, whereby it will be folded in wardly over the top and marginal portion of the filling d as the carriage a travels around the table I) and the spring-structure and filling remain stationary on table I). The under and inner edge IE5 of arm 15 during the travel of the carriage (1 slides over and around the filling d and presses the filling around the edge member of the spring structure. The curved portion ll of the longitudinally extending bar folds or turns the downturned portion d of the filling d inwardly and upwardly to the filling a. above the spring-structure as the device it travels with mechanism around the table 11 and, in conjunction with edge Hi of arm l5, forms the 'roll d around the edge of the spring-structure. The straight portion l8 of said bar holds the inturned portion 01 until a staple has been driven through the liner portion e which has been folded iiiwardly over thetop of filling d through the'filling on top of the spring-structure and through the .inturned marginal portion d of the filling. The anvil is located at the rear end of extension 18 under the inturned portion e? of the liner e and the unfolded portion 01 of the filling CF. The staple will simultaneously secure the boxborder to the filling andsecure the filling around the corner of the spring-structure. This exemplifies means, movable relatively to the mattress table and the mattress parts thereon, which simultaneously folds the free marginal portion e of the box-border into position to be stapled to the filling and which inturns the depending filling portion 11 to form and hold the roll al and to hold the roll of filling while the staple is being driven. The arm l5 and the longitudinally extending bar ll, 18 are located in advance of the stapling mechanism. The arm 15 slides between the box-border and the filling around the edge" of the spring-structure before the latter are secured together. The upstanding portion l2 of the device it is positioned to engage the ticking e of the box-border and to direct the latter toward the roll cl adjacent the anvil 0 Arm l4 supports arm I5 from above the liner portion e so that arm 15 can slide under liner portion e and over filling d Arm l5 supports the bar l1, 18 so it can slide between the box-border and the filling portion (i The operation of the machine will be as follows: placed on the table b. The filling d is laid over the top of the spring-structure with its marginal portion at depending from the edge of said structure. In starting an assembly the portion 3 adjacent the device it is folded to the inner side of bar ll, 8. The box border is passed between- The spring-structure d (Fig. 2) is first arm [5 and the standard a and the rear end of the free margin e of the inner liner is held over the outer portion of arm l5 and around the edge of the mattress rearwardly of the stapler until the first staple has been driven. The bar l1, [8 holds the portion d of the filling inturned to form the roll d" around which the margin of liner 6 is laid. The stapling mechanism is then operated to drive a staple 1 through the marginal portion 12 of the liner e the top of the filling d and its underlai'd infolded marginal portion (1 as illustrated in Fig. '7. The carriage is then advanced one step during which the arm l5 and bar l1, l8 will slide between the liner e and the filling so that the marginal portion d of the filling will be inturned and the free margin of the liner e will be folded over the filling as the device h and stapler'c are advanced between the step-by-step movements of the carriage.

After the first staple has been driven, the arm l5 will guide the marginal portion of liner e around the edge of the filling because its rear end is secured to the stationary filling, and the bar l1, I8 willslide along and inturn the marginal portion d until the next staple is driven. This operation is continued until the box-border has been secured to the filling and spring-structhis around all four sides of the mattress. This exemplies mechanism which simultaneously forms the roll al around the edge of the mattress structure and inturns the depending marginal portion d of the filling d for successive stapling operations whereby the bx-bo'r'd'e'r is assembled with the filling and spring-structure 6f the mattress. v Y g The partially formed mattress is then inverted and another filling d is laid over the top of the spring-structure and th operation is repeated until the entire other margin of the box-border has been secured in likemanner. I

After each free margin of the liner e of the box-border has been secured to one edge of the spring-structure; padding d? of suitable material will be laid over the filling d and its edges folded under to fil-l the gap left by staples forming the innerrroll and a ticking d will be laid over the padding d The marginsof ticking d and the outer ticking e of the box-border will be sewed together as at g; usually by a tape edge machine, as well understood in the art. When the top and bottom ticking have beenthus securedto the boxborder, the mattress will be completed, V

The invention-exemplifies a simple and efficient machine for securing the inner liners of preformed box-border to the spring-structure of a mattress. It also exemplifies a machine for simultaneously forming a roll of filling around the edges of the spring-structure and securing together the inner liner of the box border to said filling to the roll, the box-border, and the filling.-

The invention is not to be understood as restricted' to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention; H

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to claim by Letters Patcut is:

- l. A machine for assembling a sprin'g' structure for a mattress, a filling over the spring-structure 'a'ndapreitirmedbox-border provided with aliner having a free margin, said machine comprising-,- mec'han ism movable relatively to the springstructure for driving a staple, means movable with said mechanism for turning the free margin of.

structure, saidmachinecomprising, mechanism .the liner inwardly over the filling and the corner movable around the structure with the filling of the structure, said mechanism being'adapted to drive a staple through the inturned margin of the liner and the filling inwardly of the corner of the spring-structure, and an anvil supported for movement with said mechanism and said turning means for securing the staple to secure the box-border, filling; and structure together.

2. A machine for assembling a spring-structure for a mattress, a filling over the spring-structure and a preformed box-border provided with'a liner having a free margin, said machine comprising, mechanism movable relatively to g the springstructure for driving a staple, means supported for movement with said mechanism for turning the free margin of the liner inwardly over the filling and thecorner of the structure in advance of said mechanism, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the inturned margin of the liner and the filling inwardly of the corner of the spring-structure, an anvil for securing the staple to secure the box-border, filling, and structure together, and means for supporting the anvil from said turning means so it will underlie the filling and the inturned margin of the liner. 3. A machine for assembling a spring-structure of a mattress, a filling over the spring structure and a preformed box-border provided with an inner liner having a free margin, said machine comprising, mechanism movable around the springstructure for driving a staple, an arm supported for travel with said mechanism and for sliding engagement with said margin of the liner in ad- Vance of said mechanism for turning said margin of the liner inwardly over the filling and the corner of the structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the inturned margin of the liner and the filling inwardly of the corner of the spring-structure, an anvil for securing the staple to secure the box-border, filling, and structure together, and means for supporting the anvil from said arm.

4. A machine for assembling a spring-structure of a mattress, a filling over the spring-structure and a preformed box-border provided with a liner having a free margin, said machine comprising, mechanism movable around the spring-structure for driving a staple, means supported for travel with and for sliding engagement with said free margin in advance of said mechanism for turning said free margin inwardly over the filling and the corner of the structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the inturned margin of the liner and the filling inwardly of the corner of the spring-structure, said means including a rigid arm, an anvil for securing the staple to secure the box-border, filling, and structure together, and a rigid element for supporting the anvil from said arm.

5. A machine for assembling a spring-structure of a mattress and a filling over the spring-structure, said machine comprising, mechanism movable around the structure With the filling thereon for driving a staple, means supported to travel with and in advance of said mechanism for slidably engaging and folding a portion of the fillin to form a roll around the corner of the structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the filling over the structure and the inwardly folded portion inwardly of said corner, and an anvil supported to travel with said mechanism for securing the staple to secure the roll around the corner of the structure.

6. A machine for assembling a spring-structure of a mattress and a filling over the springthereon for driving a staple, means supported to travel with and in advance of said mechanism for slidably engaging the filling over at'the side of the structure and folding a portion of the filling to form a roll around the corner of the structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the filling over the structure and the inwardly folded portion inwardly of said corner, and an anvil supported to travel with saidmechanism for securing the staple to secure the roll around the corner of the structure. 7. A machine for assembling a spring-structure of a mattress and a filling over the springstructure, said machine comprising, mechanism movable around the structure with the filling thereon for driving a staple, an arm supported to travel with and in advance of said mechanism, a, curved bar extending longitudinally and rearwardly from saidarm for slidably engaging and folding a portion of the filling inwardly to form a roll around the corner of the structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through thefilling over the structure and said inturned portion inwardly of said corner, and an anvil on the rear end of said bar for securing the staple to secure the roll around the corner of the structure.

8. A machine for assembling a spring-structure of a mattress and a filling over the springstructure, said machine comprising, mechanism movable around the structure with the filling thereon for driving a staple, an arm supported to travel with and in advance of said mechanism and having a curved lower surface for pressing the filling against the corner of the structure, a bar extending rearwardly and curved inwardly from said arm for slidably engaging and folding a depending portion of the filling to form a roll around the corner of the structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the filling over the structure and said inturned portion inwardly of said corner, and an anvil on the rear end of said bar for securing the staples to secure the roll around the corner of the structure.

9. A machine for assembling a spring-structure for a mattress, a filling over the springstructure and a preformed box-border provided with an inner liner having a free margin, said machine comprising, mechanism movable around the Spring structure for driving a staple, means supported for travel with and in advance of said mechanism for turning the free edge of the margin of the liner inwardly over the filling and the corner of the structure, means supported to travel with and in advance of said mechanism for slidably engaging at the inner side of said margin of the liner and folding a portion of the filling to form a roll around the corner of the structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the liner, the filling over the structure, and the inwardly folded portion of the filling inwardly of said corner, and an anvil supported to travel with said mechanism for securing the staple to secure the box-border and the roll around the corner of the structure.

10. A machine for assembling a spring-structure for a mattress, a filling over the springstructure and a preformed box-border rovided with an inner liner having a free margin, said machine comprising, mechanism movable around the spring-structure for driving a staple, means supported for travel with said mechanism for 4 ass-spec turning the free edge of'the margin of the liner inwardly over the filling and the corner of the structure, means supported on said turning means for slidably engaging and folding a portion "of the filling at the inner side of said margin of the liner to form "a roll around the corner of the structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the liner, the filling over the structure, and the'inwardly folded portion of the filling inwardly 'of said corner, and an anvil supported on said filling-folding means for securing the staple to secure the box-border and the roll around the corner of th structure.

11. A machine for assembling a spring-structure for a mattress a filling over the springstructure and a preformed'box-border provided with an inner liner having a free margin, said machine comprising, mechanism movable around the spring-structure for driving a staple,a bracket supported for travel with said mechanism, means on said bracket for turning the free edge of the margin of the liner inwardly over the filling and the corner of the structure, means on said bracket and in advance of said mechanism for slidably engaging and folding a portion of the filling at the inner side of the liner to form a roll around the corner of the structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the liner and filling over the structure and the inwardly folded portion of the filling inwardly of said corner, and an anvil supported on said filling-folding means 'for securing the 5 staple to secure the box-border and the roll around the corner of the structure.

12. Amachine forassembling on a work-supporting table a spring-structure of a mattress, a 'filling over the spring-structure and a pre- 10 formed box-border having an "inner liner with a free margin, said machine comprising, mechanism for driving a staple supported for travel around the spring-structure, a bracket supported 'for travel with said mechanism, an arm on and 15 projecting inwardly 'from said bracket, a second arm extending outwardly from the inner end of the arm and projecting from the bracket, said arms being spaced apart for the passage of the inner liner between them, a bar curved and ex- 2 tending longitudinally from the outer end of the second arm for folding a depending portion into a roll around the corner of the spring-structure, said mechanism being adapted to drive a staple through the inturned liner and the filling for 25 securing the roll and liner to the corner of the structure, and an anvil on the rear end of said 'bar for securing the staple.

THOMAS N. PATTON. 

